Healthy bodies and healthy lifestyles are important to everyone. Unfortunately accidents, illness and disease can strike without warning. Similarly, emergencies and disasters can also occur without warning.

Pedestrians cross State Street in Salt Lake City in 1983 after flood waters overran City Creek. Utah communities are always working on flood mitigation and preparedness. Are you? Photo credit: Utah Department of Transportation

Be Ready Utah and the Utah Division of Emergency Management are teaming up with the National Weather Service and FEMA to help Utahns be mindful of and prepare for severe weather. Take the next step by encouraging others to do the same.

Are you ready for &quot;the big one&quot;? Be Ready Utah, Utah State University Extension, BYU and Emergency Essentials have teamed up to put on a one day conference open to the public. Over 21 classes and demonstrations will be offered. For details and to register visit www.utahprepare.org

Joey Thomas' face turned suddenly calm and serious at the same time. &quot;Are you choking? Do you need me to help?&quot; his mother, Susan, asked. Joey nodded. He wasn't breathing.Before that moment, everything was normal: Oct. 26, 2010, ordinary night at home in Sandy with his mom and brother, fall in the air, Halloween candy at the ready.

This September marks the seventh annual National Preparedness Month ? one month designed to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies and disasters. Even though we don't know when or where disasters and emergencies may strike, we do know that we can do more to be prepared for the unexpected.

Salt Lake City, Utah - The State of Utah has joined a national effort during September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies and disasters. This year marks the sixth annual National Preparedness Month sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Ready campaign.

National Lightning Safety Awareness Week is June 21-27. The NOAA Lightning Safety Team, comprised of government and private sector businesses, will lead the lightning safety campaign, with participation from various state and local agencies and businesses. This campaign is de- signed to lower lightning death and injury rates and America's vulnerability to one of nature's deadliest hazards.

In this country, Utah's Homeland Security is again telling folks that the concept of &quot;Duck, Cover, and Hold&quot; is still the best immediate protection when the ground starts shaking. You drop under the nearest desk or table to cover your head and hold on to that table or desk.

April is Earthquake Preparedness Month 2009 On Tuesday, March 31 - Governor Jon Huntsman declared the month of April as Earthquake Preparedness Month in Utah. The Utah Seismic Safety Commission will lead the preparedness efforts during April and each week will have a focus: